Restoration Activities Update

Springtime Progress

The fine weather in March has assisted progress on a number of structures along the line of the restoration. The pictures below trace the progress from West to East.

Stonehouse Ocean Swing Bridge

The new swing bridge mounting and landing platform have been formed. The new steel bridge is being fabricated off-site and will be delivered in sections on Monday 2nd April. Its assembly and installation by Contractors Galliford Try will allow the roadway to reopen by the end of the month.

Ryeford Double Lock

CCT Volunteers have been busy finalising the lock gear fitting. Tug Goliath and the Trust's mud barge are seen here transporting equipment to the site

Ebley Mill

The concrete flood prevention channel is now complete. The single pair of stop gates, manufactured by Hargreaves of Sowerby Bridge, were recently lifted into place by local cranage experts Ellis Cranes.

When the water main across the canal is disconnected what remains of the access road into Ebley Mill will be removed. This will permit the developer to reinstate the swing bridge channel. The bridge itself will be the responsibility of the housing developer and will be installed when 50% of the dwellings on the new development have been occupied.

Griffins Mill

The group of men & women CCT volunteers led by Steve Hake have been very busy. Scaffolding has been installed in the lock chamber.

Steve describes a day in the life of the lock's restoration…

"Margaret made the access to the off side of the lock safer by building up the sloping track. The rest of us started clearing behind the off side coping stones in readiness for rolling or turning them back."

"The scaffolding team completed their excellent work just after lunch. We then started moving the coping stones back."

"This process seemed relatively easy. The brickwork beneath them is not in a good state, there are voids and much of it is not bonded together. We are now in a position to really tackle the brickwork. Much will be done using hand tools but I hope by the date of our next work party, Sunday 1st April, to have a generator on site and some power tools to assist us."